Let Us Hold on to Jesus
Last week, we read from Matthew’s gospel some lines from one of John the Baptist’s sermons: Matthew 3.7-9
'But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bear fruit worthy of repentance.
Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor;’
for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.” '
Who begins a letter, email, or sermon on such a negative note! I cannot imagine beginning a sermon in like manner!
In the second part of these opening lines, John refers to the Pharisees and Sadducees, suggesting if they think their ancestor Abraham is going to save them, they need to think differently.
All of this came to us on the 2nd Sunday of Advent when our theme was 'Searching for Peace'.
These lines certainly challenge the preacher. Not just today, but preachers of the past as well. I am not sure it even makes for good ‘fire and brimstone.’
I wonder what the community’s response was to these words. I am sure they would have been as shocked and dismayed in their day as we would be today.
What John is telling the community of believers is, if they want to be part of the coming kingdom, they will need to make adjustments in their lives.
In the language of today, if we want to be part of the correction (I believe) the world needs, we will be required to make adjustments in most aspects of our lives.
At the same time, for our purposes today, we are in mid-Advent: the time of preparation to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
To give Advent its just due, we need to, somehow, step back in time: to an era when, like the world in John’s time, the people were not sure who, or what, this 'new salvation' would look like.
I am mindful of a little boy, for whom this year is his first year to really see Santa Claus. A year ago, he could have taken or left it. This year was different: his cognitive thinking had advanced to the point of knowing "this person" looked different from anyone he had ever seen, or met, before. His parents shared with me that on his first visit in the mall, there was no way he wanted to sit on Santa’s knee. Two weeks later, a picture showed the little boy holding Santa’s hand!
Often, in our spiritual journey, we are not sure. We are not sure just who Christ is, or how knowing Christ will change our lives.
What is ingenious about this gospel is how John makes the introduction to faith with 'his baptism with water for repentance.' Then, he advises the community, the one coming will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire.
For the young boy, it was not about baptism. It was really all about the candy cane. Yes, he got his candy cane.
We all need to hold Jesus' hand.
Blessings as we journey in Advent,
Archdeacon Brian+
